Submitted photo

From the Cook County Community Foundation - November 4, 2021

After a long and trying Covid hiatus, it was a special treat for the Grand Marais Playhouse to reopen and stage a live community production of “The Birthday Club” this summer, with the support of a grant from Cook County Community Fund.  Directed by Sue Hennessy, the play offered a good laugh as these five women get together for their birthdays,  to drink, celebrate, commiserate and support each other as they negotiate through marriage, work, divorce, birth and kids, while solving the problems of the world. Cast members included Diane Stoddard as Cheryl, a married, successful business owner, with perhaps some “control issues.” Claire Smith played Emily, a twice-divorced high school teacher, and prolific Tinder-dater. Alyssa Hedstrom played friend Abbie, a stay-at-home with an elegant house with a pool and luxuries such as pocket doors. Amanda Hand played the “rough around the edges” Kathy who is married with four kids and who works in law enforcement—although she “can’t talk about it.”  Finally, Jaye White as Sarah rounded out the cast as the newest member of The Birthday Club, an odd addition as Sarah is a member of the very strict “Heemish” religion and quite naïve about worldly things.

The production was staged for live and live-stream audiences on four evenings from July 22-25.  This was the first play before an audience in nearly two years.